INEC UNDER PRESSURE TO RESTORE YAGBA WEST I & II CONSTITUENCIES AS COURT ORDERS ELECTIONS IN SUPPRESSED KOGI SEATS
Publisher of The Policy and Lawmakers Magazine, Prince Bolarin Friday Ogungbemi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to immediately restore and conduct elections in Yagba West I and Yagba West II State Constituencies in Kogi State, citing a recent Federal High Court judgment.
Addressing journalists in Lokoja on Democracy Day, Ogungbemi said the people of the two constituencies have suffered “setbacks and denial of adequate representation” since the return of democracy in 1999 due to INEC’s failure to recognize the seats created in 1991 for the Kogi State House of Assembly.
The call follows Justice Isah Danshan’s ruling in Suit No: FHC/LKJ/CS/01/2026 delivered in Lokoja, which declared the suppression of several Kogi constituencies unlawful and ordered INEC to restore and conduct elections in them.
Justice Danshan specifically declared that the suppression of constituencies across Kogi’s three senatorial districts was unlawful and ordered INEC to comply with Section 91 of the 1999 Constitution in the composition of the Kogi State House of Assembly.
“Having been proven beyond reasonable fact, the Independent National Electoral Commission must, without hesitation, conduct elections in the suppressed constituencies in 2027,” Justice Danshan ruled, according to Ogungbemi.
The court further ordered INEC to restore the affected seats including: Central – Adavi West/East, Ajaokuta South/North, Okehi Eika/Ihima; West – Ijumu I Gbede, Ijumu-Arin II, Kabba/Bunu I/II, Koton Karfe I/II; East – Bassa Nge/Igbirra, Bassa Komu. In total, 36 constituencies are to be revived for 2027, up from the 25 contested in previous elections.
Ogungbemi referenced INEC’s own press release dated June 10, 2026, titled “CONDUCT OF PARTY PRIMARIES IN THE RESTORED CONSTITUENCIES IN BENUE, DELTA, JIGAWA AND KOGI STATES FOR THE ELECTION”, signed by National Commissioner Muhammad Kudu Haruna. He also cited INEC’s letter INEC/HQ/EOPS/DEL/S.32/213 dated April 30, 2026, in which the Commission approved “technical processes towards the restoration of 20 court-ordered suppressed constituencies in Kogi, Delta, Benue and Jigawa.”
Despite this, he lamented that Yagba West I and Yagba West II were omitted from the ongoing restoration process.
“The people of Yagba West LGA have for a long time suffered political marginalization. This denial has deprived them of proper representation at the State House of Assembly,” Ogungbemi said.
He urged INEC to, without further delay, enlist Yagba West I and Yagba West II in the restoration exercise to correct what he called “injustice over the years.”
“For the sake of justice, fairness, and adequate representation of the good people of Yagba West I and Yagba West II, INEC must include these constituencies in the ongoing restoration process as mandated by the court,” he added.
As of press time, INEC Kogi was yet to issue a formal response to the specific demand on Yagba West constituencies.
The Federal High Court judgment also granted orders restraining further suppression of the 32 constituencies existing after Kogi State’s creation and directed INEC to grant requests for additional constituencies where financially feasible, in line with Section 91 of the Constitution.
Prince Ogungbemi made the call during a press conference organized by The Policy and Lawmakers Magazine to mark Nigeria’s 2026 Democracy Day.
